Has anyone else come across prints where the cue marks were holes punched into the film, instead of scratches; one print I have has holes similar to that made by a paper punch, they taper in size over a few frames. I did read some years ago, that some TV station did this, and Columbia Pictures refused to supply them any more prints as they called it deliberate damage.

I have a print, can't recall the title off hand, but it has the "punched" cue marks that you mention.

i have many, many prints like this

It's a shame they needed to do it that way; I think I just have the one; then I have one where there are holes punched in the leader; what that's for I don't know?

Holes punched in a leader could be to position for projector start.

I have hole punches in my ex-BBC scope copy of Airport 1975.

It makes you think why the cue dot marker was made to punch holes through the film base? Was this for cuing the interneg in preparation for printing from? But in that case the cue dots would be black, less obtrusive on the screen?

I had a Robert Rigby 35mm cue dot marker and there was a round scribing tool insert for the holes. The end of the tool was chamfered with a countersunk centre that was twirled between forefinger and thumb to make the circular cue dot rings on the emulsion side. The film dampened to soften the emulsion layer.

I found it at the wonderful Thorpe Market and was told that it had come originally from Walton cinema and then used at the Robert McAlpine workmens' cinema during the building of the Bradwell nuclear power station.

I gave it to the Harwich Electric Palace (built 1912) Cinema.

Ian